October 2023 New Release Cozies

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews. The recipe reviews and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.  

Syrup to No Good
A Maple Syrup Mystery
Catherine Bruns

Welcome to Sugar Ridge and the Sappy Endings maple syrup farm complete with the Sappy Hour Café where you can get some tasty treats (btw recipes are at the end of the story). Great stand alone cozy that features a sweet sleuth who runs the family maple syrup farm. There are easy to relate to characters who draw you into the story such as Leila Koury our intrepid sleuth who inherited her father’s farm business and solved his murder as well as her bff Heather Turcot, who just wants a fairy tale wedding with no glitches. I cannot think of a bigger glitch than a murder, even if the victim was Heather’s beyond snooty and condescending, new to the family, aunt Monica. Due to money problems and propriety, if someone can’t figure out who killed Monica with a bejeweled knife, the happy couple are going to be saying their vows at the county courthouse. Heather figures that since Leila was able to solve her dad’s murder she must be the next Jessica Fletcher and just has to look into things. There is no shortage of suspects including Heather’s own uncle Grant. I would say that there were just as many misdirects and in the middle of it all is a sticky situation involving Mark, the guy who broke Leila’s heart and their engagement five years ago. Needless to say, Leila has not been sitting around waiting for him to walk back into her life. Leila has taken her emotional baggage and moved on. Thankfully, Noah, Leila’s employee, co-worker, boyfriend (she isn’t sure how to label it), has some baggage of his own and I don’t mean his adorable daughter Emma. Leila has no time, interest, or trust in Mark’s sudden desire to rekindle their relationship and take up where he left off. Besides, Leila has a murder to solve and no time for Mark’s full court press or her mother Selma’s backseat driving. So if you’re a foodie like me start at the back of the book, make one of those delectable dishes and settle for mystery that is such to keep you stuck to your seat. I give this cozy 5 out of 5 maple drenched pancakes.

The Fatal Folio
The Cambridge Bookshop Series #3
Elizabeth Penny

Book three of the series does not disappoint and in fact it educates. I have seen the V Mask but never knew it was the Guy Fawkes mask or that it was tied to a British historic event. In addition to the new knowledge I was also entertained by two stories and multiple mysteries. While we are reading the cozy Fatal Folio, main character Molly reads the Fatal Folio penned by one Selwyn Scott ancestor to Molly’s boyfriend, Kieran, which is also about a book that killed its owners entitled The Ramblings of a Monk. The story starts with Molly being hired to catalog Kieran’s family library. No need to have read books 1 and/or 2 to learn that Kieran is the son of Lord and Lady Scott so yes they are somewhat like aristocracy. Thankfully Kieran prefers the quite life of a bike store owner and tends to downplay the upper crust aspects of his family life.  The first mystery involves Kieran’s cousin Oliver an instructor at St. Aelred, a Cambridge college, as a suspect in the knife and run death of a student. The only clues are a pair of orange trainers (shoes) that several people own, and a very popular biking jacket with reflective trim (again very popular and unisex). The knife came from a collection housed at the school. Shortly after the murder, the original manuscript for the Fatal Folio is stolen. Molly is already so busy with the cataloging project but cannot help her curious nature and needs to find out who killed the arrogant Thad Devine and who stole the priceless original family heirloom manuscript. Molly’s curiosity is contagious because I could not put the book down. The clues were well laid as were the misdirects. The additional story that you read along with Molly draws you in every bit as much as the mystery involving Molly.

Let it Crow! Let it Crow! Let it Crow!
Meg Langslow Mysteries #34
Donna Andrews

As this was an audio I need to point out that the narrator, Bernadette Dunne, does an awesome job! My favorite smithy with a penchant for sass is back and this time she is going live. The last thing wanted to do was to be on a reality contest show for blacksmiths, in fact she was looking forward to watching from the sidelines and enjoying her time at Ra’s castle which is completely decked out for the holidays. Now she has no choice because Faulk’s sizeable investment to help fund the show is on the line. The only thing that is clear about this murder is that Brody wasn’t permanently knocked out of the running because of his talent but it might have been because he sabotaged or at least tried to sabotage the other contestants. There are plenty of suspects, and even more laughs. Meg has a great sense of humor (thanks Ms. Andrews) and referred to the producers of the show as the Tweedles, the nickname had me chuckling every single time. Once again we are made a part of the Hollingsworth family as Meg takes us with her along with her notebook that “reminds her when to breath” as she hammers out the challenge of a contest and a killer. Did I mention that she has some great interactions with the title stars? Great stand-alone but you really should start with the first book and it will take you no time to get caught up.  So many funny family get-togethers, so much yummy sounding foods, and everyone is just so darn nice! This cozy holds your attention from beginning to end with great plot, comedic episodes, serious sleuthing, and an awesome cast of characters.

A Nutcracker Nightmare

A Killer Chocolate Mystery

Christina Romeril

The twins are back for their second book and second Christmas season of making delicious chocolates and spreading holiday cheer. I do believe that this cozy had the most odious victim I have ever come across, but even an odious victim deserves justice. In addition to the hustle and bustle of the holiday, a high school reunion of sorts brings several people to town for the holiday season, including a variety of suspects. As with any reunion, people talk about past events including the tragic loss of young life which may or may not have a bearing on this mystery. The alumni aren’t the only one engaging in chit chat amongst themselves, it seems that there is an anonymous gossip known as Miss T, who likes to spill the tea and create a bit of drama such as making disparaging remarks about Alex. Alex has no time for drama, Hanna’s fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, spurring Alex into sleuth mode with the help of her friends and her romantic interest. This is a stand-along mystery where the secrets of the past and present collide creating clues and misdirects. This cozy is thoroughly enjoyable with a set of twins who are relatable and some delectable sounding chocolates, plus a recipe or two found at the conclusion of the story. I give this one 5 chocolates out of 5.

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree
A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Jacqueline Frost

Book four finds Holly White, innkeeper, jewelry artisan, and bride to be, in the thick of the Christmas season and knee deep in wedding plans, so surely she can find time to squeeze in a little sleuthing on the side when an Inn guest dies. The town is hopping this holiday season, in addition to the usual overwhelming influx of visitors, the mayor has arranged for a ballet company to perform the Nutcracker, stretching the police force even thinner than usual. This means that Holly’s finance Evan, aka the sheriff, is on crowd control in addition to getting prepped for the wedding and then there’s a murder. Everyone knows that Holly can’t resist a mystery, especially when Tiffany the dead prima ballerina, was a guest at her Inn so it is no secret that Holly is asking questions. Questions for the ballet coach, questions for the other ballerinas, questions for an elusive blogger named Courtney, she is even asking elusive Libby, Evan’s sister questions (not related to the murder). Libby is acting strange, wearing wigs, being skittish, she even broke up with her boyfriend. What is that all about? Holly has her hands full and will need to enlist the help of her friends if she is going to get Christmas cards mailed, donated gifts wrapped, reception decorations made, and murder solved. As with the previous Christmas Tree Farm mysteries, this is a stand-alone that stands out not only because of the expertly crafted plot but because these characters are genuine and draw you in as you turn each page. The other thing that draws me in with this series are the amazing sweets. Holly tells Libby that all you need is slice of peppermint pie to get people to talk, after finding a recipe and making one for myself, I have to agree that I would spill the tea for a piece of that pie. Looking forward to book five!